Northeast Missouri Health Council to debut National Diabetes Prevention Program

by Raven Brown

(MGN Online)

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. —

The Northeast Missouri Health Council has teamed up with the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services to begin developing a National Diabetes Prevention Program to be offered to northeast Missouri residents at the end of 2017.

Currently, the closest programs are being offered at YMCA facilities in Kansas City and St. Louis.

Outpatient dietitian Carrie Snyder told KTVO how many people are affected right here in the Heartland.

"The state prevalence is 35.9 percent, so we have estimated those living in counties we serve at about 25,000 adults in Northeast Missouri have pre-diabetes -- they don't necessarily know that," Snyder said.

As part of National Diabetes Month, the council will have an open house for local health care professionals and community stakeholders to discuss the new National DPP and other services. The open house will be held on Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Anyone is welcome to attend but is asked to call ahead to give notice.

The health council will be accepting insurance or self-pay for the new service, and will also begin billing Medicare and Medicaid once it becomes available.